Coffee & Tea

The Facts About Chicory

Is chicory still added to coffee?
Yes. Gourmets throughout Europe and the US have been mellowing coffee with chicory for generations. In fact, consumption of coffee and chicory has dramatically grown in popularity in recent years with several new brands and products on the market. The root of the chicory plant is sliced, kiln-dried, ground and roasted to a rich dark brown color, like coffee beans. When added to coffee, it adds body, aroma, color and mellowness.

Doesn't chicory make coffee bitter?
No. In fact, just the reverse is true. Chicory blended with coffee actually produces a smoother, more enjoyable cup of coffee, as proved by extensive blind taste tests among coffee drinkers. Chicory offsets what many refer to as "the bitter taste of coffee". Since chicory tends to darken coffee, this darkness has often been misconstrued as meaning the coffee will be bitter or "stronger".

Does chicory contain caffeine?
None at all. Which means that if you drink a coffee blended with chicory, you actually reduce your caffeine intake without sacrificing enjoyable taste.

How do you obtain chicory?
Chicory is available in several convenient forms:
1. Ground roast chicory - often available in food stores, gourmet shops, specialty coffee and tea stores. This is used for blending with coffee at home, or for brewing as a hot or cold chicory beverage. Or, you can order chicory with us.
2. Instant coffee blended with powdered chicory. For a quick hot or cold drink.
3. Ground roast coffee blended with ground roast chicory - for rich coffee flavor, using your favorite percolator or drip brewing method. You can find our delicious coffee and chicory blends in right here in the online catalog.

Chicory Recipes
Coffee and Chicory
Measure out half the amount of coffee you'd ordinarily use to make a pot of coffee. Then add half that amount of chicory and brew. Example: If you ordinarily use one tablespoon of coffee per cup, you would use only 3 tablespoons of coffee, plus one and a half tablespoons of chicory to make six cups.

Hot Brewed Chicory
Chicory can be brewed right in your home coffeemaker. Simply use two to three tablespoons of ground roast chicory for each cup of hot brew desired. Vary the amount to suit your taste. Sweeten with sugar (brown or white) or honey; lighten with milk or cream.

Chicory Milk
Combine one measuring cup milk and one teaspoon chicory. Bring to a boil and let stand five minutes. Then strain and serve either hot or cold. Add sugar to taste.

Chicory Extract
Combine in a saucepan 3/4 cup ground roast chicory and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil and simmer three minutes. Remove from heat, let stand 15 minutes, strain. Store in covered jar in refrigerator. Use a teaspoon or two to flavor puddings and desserts. This extract makes an excellent coloring for gravies, stews, rye breads, or any dish to which you want to add a dark, rich color.